Large cat on the loose in Berrien County

After horse was recently mauled, officials are willing to believe the rumors.

After horse was recently mauled, officials are willing to believe the rumors.

December 06, 2005|JEFF ROMIG Tribune Staff Writer

ST. JOSEPH -- Rumors of some sort of oversized cat traipsing through northern Berrien County have been swirling for quite some time. But local officials believe those rumors were confirmed recently when a horse in Watervliet was mauled. "We had to destroy the horse," Berrien County Administrator Bill Wolf said. "It was that bad." Berrien County Animal Control Manager Val Grimes has issued a warning to Berrien County residents of the possibility that there's a mountain lion or cougar on the loose. "And I'm not saying there's just one," Grimes said. "There may be several." Grimes said there had been "all kinds" of sightings and rumors of some sort of large cat in the area over the past year, but nothing was confirmed until officials saw the damage done to this horse. County officials are urging residents with outdoor pets or livestock to put them inside if at all possible. "We need everyone to pay attention," Grimes said. "If they can get them in, get them in." She said animals should be in barns at night, and pets should not be allowed to run loose at any time. Wolf said the county wants to convey that there's a concern out there but doesn't want to cause a panic. But after seeing the photos of the mauled horse, he said they're not simply dealing with a coyote.